Ilya worked as a journalist, migrated to the USA in 1918 (around the time of the Russian Revolution), and had a motley career in the States. He did some journalism, including writings about his famous father in Russia, and served as a consultant on a few Hollywood films with Russian themes, including:

-Resurrection (1927)-Love (1927)

In one film Ilya Tolstoy even appeared briefly playing the role of his own father Leo Tolstoy.